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Engagement
Ring Guru > Additional Articles- Series 1
Platinum Settings for Engagement Rings
Platinum is stunning white metal. Unlike gold, it is used in almost
its
pure form, at approximately 95% pure in jewelry. Platinum is extremely
long wearing and is very white, so it does not need to be Rhodium plated
like white gold. It is a very dense metal, so you might notice that it
feels
heavier than a traditional 18ct gold ring. Platinum is, however, very
expensive. A platinum ring will cost approximately twice the price of an
18ct white gold ring.
Platinum's history and tradition is very rich. Prized since its discovery
in
ancient Egypt, it remains true even today that nothing stirs the soul like
platinum.
In the late 1800s “Platinum-Mania” hit Europe and Russia. Kings, Queens,
Tsars and Maharajas alike demanded to be decorated with anything and
everything platinum. IT even reached the point where Spain's King Charles
IV
commissioned a platinum room, while others wore gowns woven with platinum
thread.
All of the major jewelers at the time, including Cartier, Faberge and
Tiffany, had great plans for platinum, creating legendary designs. Each of
the world's most famous diamonds; the Star of Africa, the Hope, Jonker I
and
Koh-I-Noor were set securely in the permanence of platinum settings.
Early in the 1900s, platinum’s popularity came to America, captivating any
and all who saw it. The platinum fame and standard hit an all time high
when it reached Hollywood. Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe were the
consummate "platinum blondes"; personified glamour.
Platinum is closely related to five other metals, palladium, ruthenium,
rhodium, osmium, and iridium. These metals are recognized as the platinum
group metals (PMG). They are all comprised of similar atomic structures,
and
have some similarity in chemical and mechanical properties, although there
are, of course, many important differences.
The purity of platinum is extremely important, as it is hypoallergenic and
resists tarnish, making it easy for sensitive people to wear. Also,
platinum's purity makes it one of the strongest, most durable metals in
the
world.
Platinum is, as aforementioned, quite expensive. The reason for this is
multi-layered. Supply and demand is in part the reason. Many new
industrial
uses for platinum have emerged and grown recently, increasing the demand
for
platinum quite dramatically. Platinum is well known as a catalyst in many
chemical reactions, and is used in catalytic converters for car vehicle
exhaust systems. However, due to the high melting point, and the other
difficulties in extraction and refining, platinum is expensive to buy and
process. This leads to higher labor costs for manufacturing it, and also
higher expense in recycling it.
It is for these reasons that Platinum is quite perfect for diamond
settings.
Consideration need only be made for personal taste and the expense.
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